Wednesday, April 22, 2009

HAPPY EARTH DAY



Top 10 Green Pet Tips for Earth Day
by Dr. Donna Spector
Help your pet tread more lightly on Mother Earth with a few easy changes!

  1. Scooping poop! Use biodegradable bags to collect your dog's waste. Ordinary plastic bags can take decades to decompose in landfills. If your bag meets biodegradability standards (ASTM D6400) they will decompose in just months. Avoid clumping clay litter for cats. Not only is the clay strip-mined (which is bad for our planet), there are usually several chemicals added to this type of litter which can be harmful for the cat and the environment. There are several environmentally friendly alternatives such as litter made of plant sources or recycled newspaper.

  2. Consider composting pet waste. This is only an option for the very environmentally responsible family. Animal waste contains nasty bacteria (and other pathogens) that can contaminate soil and anything you may grow there. If you choose to compost, choose a commercially available product or bury an old garbage bin (far away from any food-growing area) to use as a pet waste composter.
  3. Feed a natural or organic pet food for optimal health and well-being. These foods provide nutrients which are minimally processed and preserved with natural substances. They do not contain artificial colors or other harmful additives. Organic pet foods also avoid the use of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically engineered ingredients.
  4. Buy local. Purchasing fruits and vegetables at your local farmers market not only helps support your local economy but you will also cut down on the amount of fossil fuel required to ship your pet's food. Besides, your pet will love this tasty addition of green to his life.

  5. Protect wildlife. Keep dogs on leash and cats indoors to help protect the native wildlife. The State of the Birds survey describes cats as "important indicators of our nation's environmental health" and lists cat predation as a serious threat to bird populations.
  6. Limit the amount of "fish food" you give your pet. Pets represent a threat to fish stocks worldwide. The pet food industry uses approximately 10% of the global supply of forage fish according to a New York Times Op-ed piece. Too much of certain fish may also pose an increased risk of mercury exposure for your pet. Consider alternating between fish and other meat sources to keep your pet happy.

  7. Try recycled toys. There are now many toys and bedding made from recycled materials or sustainable fibers to help lessen your pet's carbon pawprint! You can even try making toys out of old socks and rope and beds out of old blankets and towels. This helps avoid taxing the environment and can help protect your dog from dangerous chemicals in plastic chew toys and bedding. Also try recycled ID tags on for size!
  8. Water conservation. Instead of leaving the spigot running during bath time, try a handheld attachment that turns on and off to decrease the amount of water used during bath time. Use warm (not hot) water to save energy. Select shampoos and grooming products that are phosphate-free and free from chemicals so the dirty bath water is as environmentally friendly as possible.

  9. Don't turn up the heat…use a sweater. To save energy during the winter months, use pet clothing to keep your pet toasty instead of turning up the thermostat. Stay cool. Instead of turning the air-conditioner on full blast in the hot summer months, consider chilled pet bed inserts to keep your pet comfortable. Ice cubes are a nice cooling "treat" for dogs.

  10. Neuter your pet. Pet overpopulation is a real problem—shelters are over-run and homeless pets are everywhere taxing environmental resources. Only one in four dogs finds a permanent loving home. When it comes time for your next pet, support adoption as part of a green lifestyle.

The very kind THOR gave me this fine award

Thank you very much THOR - you are a very nice and beautiful dog and I enjoy your stories so much. I'm glad to have such a nice friend in BRAZIL!

I would like to share this and pass it on to
NY Bully Brats , Percy's Adventures , Brownie ,Lookin' Fur Love with Scooby Doo and to Cocker Spaniel Girls

Photobucket

REMEMBER TO HELP SAVE THE EARTH!!!!

11 comments:

  1. Hi there! :)
    great tips! :)
    we send you an e-mail yesterday ... did you get it?

    lot´s of licks to you
    Pu

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  2. WOW! My man is soooo smart BOL :)
    Are you still feeling ok?
    Scruff will pick you up next Thursday fur Tahlia's party on Friday if that's ok with your Pawrents?
    Big licks to you
    Suzuki
    xxx

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  3. Great suggestions - Mommy does most of those things - she even has a big Compose bin that i like to roll in that i figured outr how to get into - Mommy gets mad since i am white and end up brown. But like she always says i am her little piggy.

    Sweetie

    PS from Mommy - thanx for the honor - now what do we do

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  4. Great suggestions, Checkers! You are so very environmentally conscious. I think you're great. Nice award, too! Congrats!

    Wiggles,
    Brind'Amour

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  5. Happy Earth day Checkers, great tips there.

    Thanks for your comment on my goop, BOL! I on a raw diet now, so I needs to eat about 10% of it as secreting organs for it to be properly nutritionally balanced, so no not getting them for me.
    ~lickies, Ludo

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  6. That is a lot of great info and I think mom is going to start buying organic food for me!!! yay. congrats on your award.

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  7. Especially liked #1 - this is a major pet peeve (where did that phrase come from anyway??). My doggy dodo is never left for someone else to step in. Wish everyone would do their part! woof, t

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  8. Hi Checkers,

    Thanks for the terrific Earth Day tips. I use a litter box with shredded paper that mom brings home from work. So I hope no one steps in my poo. If they do they are somewhere they aren't suppose to be! BOL

    Wags & wiggles,
    Bijou

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  9. Hi Checkers

    They are really great Earth Day tips. Very well done - you must be feeling better today!

    Thank you again for our award yesterday - we included it in our today. Took the little man's mum a long time to finish the post about our travels but she got there in the end.

    Take care
    Clive

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  10. Hi Checkers,
    Your blog is sooooooo cute! We will definitely share this with our friends and family. Thank goodness for biodegradable pet bags! Regular plastic grocery bags will store poop for who knows how many years

    Check these out! 60 bags for about 5 dollars!

    http://www.dogasaur.com/store/products/biodegradable-poop-pik-up-bags-106.html

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  11. Hi Checkers- hope your feeling better still,
    Thanks for the tips for Earth Day!
    Wonderful list of suggestions!
    love
    tweedles

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